Chouchou Pages

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Actually, this is not JUST a chest of drawers story. I've just finished refurbing a chest of drawers and a customer asked me to do the same finish on a chair and some small tables.

Here's the chest of drawers in the incarnation before... well made, but looking really quite dated from the 1980s.

Oh my goodness, don't things looks so different in the sun?

I've painted everything all over in Foggy Venice chalk paint - which is a light 'Paris' grey. That includes the handles, then I sealed and finished everything with white chalk wax. The 'limed' finish has been a real favourite this year.

I gave this brown chair the same treatment...

Completely different design of legs - but the white chalk wax looks so great on any carved work.

There were some old brown tables that got the same finish - they're all going out of the workshop straight into a newly decorated room... would be nice to see them all at home together :-)

Monday, 10 March 2014

I have a number of coffee tables in the shop at the moment... all very different!

Here's a stack of three - chalk paint is so versatile, you can create a number of finishes. There's a red and gold table, the top's been finished and 'aged' with dark wax, a duck egg blue table finished in white wax and a grey and white French-Style claw and ball foot table.

Here's an example of how the colour of chalk paint changes when you add a wax - the dark was is great for bringing out definition to carved pieces and 'ages' the colour.

Sunday, 7 July 2013

This is a quick story - have to run and watch the Gentlemen's Finals at Wimbledon... on a large TV with friends, fizz and strawberries - come on Andy!!!

This large, solid wood coffee table was being discarded - such a shame, I thought it would look good refurbed with a stencil design. Here's the REVEAL shot.

Here's the before...

The varnish was quite damaged. I'm often asked if chalk paint will chip. Well here's the proof, any surface will wear after use regardless of the finish, so use casters under cups, glasses and hot plates.

I lightly sanded a couple of places to remove some raised bits.

The condition of the wood is good though - just need a quick clean and then got to it with Old White all over and the top with French Linen Chalk Paint.

This is how the colours look before waxing all over with Clear Wax.

I used a stencil twice in a mirror image. I thought I'd keep this one simple.

This is how fully waxed finished version looks - I really do need to get my camera sorted out and stop using the iphone!!

Well, I just wasn't happy with it and I have been going backwards and forwards trying to create something I feel is right for the table.

So here it is again - what I decided to do was paint over the Duck Egg Blue with French Linen Chalk Paint.

I have done A LOT of distressing to this piece. If you don't like it - LOOK AWAY NOW! This post contains graphic images that some people may find disturbing...

So anyhoo, I've worked through the colours, sanding away to get show through from the original wood and layers of chalk paint.

I really love the character of this table and am looking for a lamp that will compliment it's new look.

The carved areas at the top of the legs and side of the table has Old White Chalk Paint added, again it's been treated in quite a rough way, but I really do think this table suits the harsh-shabby look.